Collin Jinks is an award-winning pianist from Stillwater, Minnesota. He began his formal musical training under Dr. Jo Anne Link at the nationally recognized Crocus Hill Studios in St. Paul, Minnesota. Jinks earned his undergraduate degree at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where he studied with Yoshikazu Nagai. Additional studies were with Dr. Jack Winerock and Dr. Steven Spooner. Jinks pursued his graduate studies with Dr. James Giles at the Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University, where he also was a graduate assistant. His graduate work was generously supported by the Eckstein Fund.
An accomplished performer, Jinks has appeared across the United States and abroad. Recently, he has appeared in faculty recital at the Amalfi Coast Music and Arts Festival in Maiori, Italy. Further accolades include third prize in the Chopin International Piano Competition in Hartford, third prize in the International Steinway Concerto Competition at the Colburn School, second prize in the Schubert Club Competition, and the national first prize in the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) Piano Competition, where he also received the Chopin Prize from the Chopin Foundation of the United States.
During Jinks’ residency at Northwestern University, he was awarded first prize in the 2024 Pauline Lindsey Endowed Scholarship Competition. Subsequently, he was the recipient of the 2025 Thaviu-Issak Endowed Prize in Piano, deemed the Bienen School of Music’s top distinction in piano performance. In masterclass, Jinks has performed under esteemed artists John Perry, Enrico Elisi, Leon Fleisher, Vladimir Feltsman, Sergei Babayan, Olga Kern, Barry Douglas, Kevin Kenner, Boris Slutsky, Bernadene Blaha, Yong Hi Moon, Inna Faliks, Awadagin Pratt, Garrick Ohlsson, and Jean-Yves Thibaudet.
Jinks has appeared with the La Crosse Symphony Orchestra, Mississippi Valley Orchestra, and Minnetonka Symphony. His performances have been aired on Classical Minnesota Public Radio.
As a teacher, Jinks has worked with students at all stages of musical development. At Northwestern University, he taught advanced non-major undergraduates through the school of music’s non-major program. In addition to this work in higher education, he is currently on faculty at The Hovland Conservatory of Music and previously served on faculty at the Music Conservatory of Illinois. He also maintains a private studio. Jinks’ students have gone on to participate in summer music programs such as the Interlochen Arts Camp Advanced Piano Program through a competitive audition process. He is deeply committed to each of his students and strives to help them reach their highest potential.
In his free time, Jinks is an avid road cyclist, photographer, and enjoys writing about music and spending time outdoors.
